Today's photos are #47, 48, 49, 50 & 51.
In 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt directed his Attorney General to
start an investigative unit. It became the FBI.
For the first 25 years 1908-1933 Agents used their own guns and holsters.
They had to obtain permits from sheriffs in whatever county they were
assigned to.
In 1933, according to Larry Wack, Colt's Police Positive was designated
"the weapon of choice" by the bureau. The Kansas City massacre in 1934
convinced the FBI that they needed a formal firearms training program.
One of the gunslingers they brought on board to provide training was
Jelly Bryce. He was in charge of training at Quantico for a while. Jim
Higinbotham, a credible witness, was quoted as saying that Jelly Bryce
"designed a Threepersons style holster with a covered trigger."
I have a holster, made by Crump, shown below on the left, with the
covered trigger. The holster is stamped Q37. In Ron Owen's book
Legendary Lawman, there is a photo on page 99 showing Jelly Bryce
teaching at Quantico in 1937. Coincidence? I don't think so.
During the 1940s and into the 1950s new agent recruits were given a
choice of the S&W Military & Police (now known as Model 10) or Colt's
Official Police, both in .38 Spl. They were also provided a holster. The
holsters were Heiser 457s provided by Evaluators, shown 2nd from left,
or a similar model by Crump, shown 3rd from left.
Myres model 614 "Tom Threepersons holster", 4th from left, and
Berns-Martin's Universal Speed Scabbard, 5th from left, were both very
popular, and though not issued, they were authorized.
So, here is the eye candy:
__________________
In Omnia Paratus
Last edited by crazyphil; 04-24-2018 at 01:32 AM.
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